At-a-glance Emergency department surveillance of thermal burns and scalds, electronic Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program, 2013 Jennifer Crain, MA (1); Steven McFaull, MSc (1); Deepa P. Rao, PhD (1); Minh T. Do, PhD (1,2); Wendy Thompson, MSc (1) Tweet this article
Introduction Although fatality and hospitalization rates for burns in Canada have declined over time,1,2 less serious cases still commonly present to the emergency department (ED).
cases (218/1682) were serious enough to require hospital admission; the highest proportion of hospitalizations was among those exposed to fire/flame/smoke, at 38.9% (72/185).
Methods The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) is an injury and poisoning surveillance system administered by the Public Health Agency of Canada, operating in emergency departments of 17 hospitals.3 We searched the electronic CHIRPP (eCHIRPP) database for ED visits by people of all ages for thermal burns and scalds sustained in 2013. Burns from friction, chemical/caustic agents, 1.4% and direct contact with lightning weren = 23 excluded because they present unique 4.8% circumstances. n = 80
Results
1.4% n = 23
FIGURE 1 Distribution of burn injuries by mechanism, frequency and percent, all ages, eCHIRPP 2013 1.4% n = 23 4.8% n = 80
While the overall proportion of burns was highest among females, males comprised a higher proportion of burns from all mechanisms except scalds (Table 1). Figures 2 and 3 show age and sex distributions among scalds and contact burns, respectively. Young children were the most prominent age group for both types of burn. Among burns from fire/flame/smoke, the highest proportion based on age and sex was within males aged 50 to 64 years (n = 16; 782/100 000 eCHIRPP cases), whereas the highest count was among males aged 15 to 19 years (n = 21; 209.1/100 000
0.7% n = 12
11.0% n = 185
Scalda
TABLE 1 Contact with hot object Distribution of burns by mechanism and Fire/flame/smoke sex, proportionb per 100 000 records,a eCHIRPP 2013 Electrical
52.3% n = 879
0.7% n = 12 29.9% n = 503
Sun Thermal mechanism Unknown Scald
0.7% 4.8% 11.0% n = 12 n = 80 Overall, 1682 cases were identified, repren = 185
Scalda
Hot object Contact with hot object Fire/flame/smokeb Fire/flame/smokeb Electrical Electrical Sun Sun
senting 1.2% (1682/137 245; 1226/100 000 eCHIRPP cases) of injuries reported in 52.3% 11.0% Scalda n = 879 2013. Half were scalds (52.3%; 879/1682) 29.9% n = 185 and 29.9% (503/1682) were contact burns Contact with hot object n = 503 from hot objects (Figure 1). The two leadUnknown Fire/flame/smokeb ing direct causes of scalds were52.3% hot beverElectrical n = 879 ages at 34.1%29.9% (292/856; n = 23 missing) Sun n= 503from the tap) at 28.9% Abbreviation: and hot water (not eCHIRPP, electronic Canadian Hospitals Injury Unknown (247/856; n = 23 missing). The two lead- Reporting and Prevention Program. ing direct causes of contact burns were a Includes contact with hot water, steam, food, oil, grease, stoves/ovens (22.0%; 109/495; n = 8 miss- liquid glue and liquid wax. ing), and fireplaces/accessories (19.6%; b Includes explosions and contact with hot coals. 97/495; n = 8 missing). Overall, 13.0% of
Unknown Total
Males
Females
544.7
767.4
393.5
331.3
169.2
89.6
71.8
40.6
20.5
11.8
7.7
10.1
1207.4
1250.8
Abbreviation: eCHIRPP, electronic Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program. Per 100 000 eCHIRPP cases of all injury types among the same sex. a
b
Includes explosions and contact with hot coals.
Author references: 1. Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Correspondence: Jennifer Crain, Surveillance and Epidemiology Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, 7th floor, AL 6807B, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9; Tel: 613-799-4096; Fax: 613-941-2057; Email: [email protected] Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada Research, Policy and Practice
30
Vol 37, No 1, January 2017
Cases per 100 000 eCHIRPP records
FIGURE 2 Distribution of scaldsa by age group and sex, frequency and proportion per 100 000b records, eCHIRPP 2013 3000 2500
M=147 F=107
N = 879
M=60 F=60
2000 1500 M=75 F=76
1000
M=47 F=75
0
1
Introduction Although fatality and hospitalization rates for burns in Canada have declined over time,1,2 less serious cases still commonly present to the emergency department (ED).
cases (218/1682) were serious enough to require hospital admission; the highest proportion of hospitalizations was among those exposed to fire/flame/smoke, at 38.9% (72/185).
Methods The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) is an injury and poisoning surveillance system administered by the Public Health Agency of Canada, operating in emergency departments of 17 hospitals.3 We searched the electronic CHIRPP (eCHIRPP) database for ED visits by people of all ages for thermal burns and scalds sustained in 2013. Burns from friction, chemical/caustic agents, 1.4% and direct contact with lightning weren = 23 excluded because they present unique 4.8% circumstances. n = 80
Results
1.4% n = 23
FIGURE 1 Distribution of burn injuries by mechanism, frequency and percent, all ages, eCHIRPP 2013 1.4% n = 23 4.8% n = 80
While the overall proportion of burns was highest among females, males comprised a higher proportion of burns from all mechanisms except scalds (Table 1). Figures 2 and 3 show age and sex distributions among scalds and contact burns, respectively. Young children were the most prominent age group for both types of burn. Among burns from fire/flame/smoke, the highest proportion based on age and sex was within males aged 50 to 64 years (n = 16; 782/100 000 eCHIRPP cases), whereas the highest count was among males aged 15 to 19 years (n = 21; 209.1/100 000
0.7% n = 12
11.0% n = 185
Scalda
TABLE 1 Contact with hot object Distribution of burns by mechanism and Fire/flame/smoke sex, proportionb per 100 000 records,a eCHIRPP 2013 Electrical
52.3% n = 879
0.7% n = 12 29.9% n = 503
Sun Thermal mechanism Unknown Scald
0.7% 4.8% 11.0% n = 12 n = 80 Overall, 1682 cases were identified, repren = 185
Scalda
Hot object Contact with hot object Fire/flame/smokeb Fire/flame/smokeb Electrical Electrical Sun Sun
senting 1.2% (1682/137 245; 1226/100 000 eCHIRPP cases) of injuries reported in 52.3% 11.0% Scalda n = 879 2013. Half were scalds (52.3%; 879/1682) 29.9% n = 185 and 29.9% (503/1682) were contact burns Contact with hot object n = 503 from hot objects (Figure 1). The two leadUnknown Fire/flame/smokeb ing direct causes of scalds were52.3% hot beverElectrical n = 879 ages at 34.1%29.9% (292/856; n = 23 missing) Sun n= 503from the tap) at 28.9% Abbreviation: and hot water (not eCHIRPP, electronic Canadian Hospitals Injury Unknown (247/856; n = 23 missing). The two lead- Reporting and Prevention Program. ing direct causes of contact burns were a Includes contact with hot water, steam, food, oil, grease, stoves/ovens (22.0%; 109/495; n = 8 miss- liquid glue and liquid wax. ing), and fireplaces/accessories (19.6%; b Includes explosions and contact with hot coals. 97/495; n = 8 missing). Overall, 13.0% of
Unknown Total
Males
Females
544.7
767.4
393.5
331.3
169.2
89.6
71.8
40.6
20.5
11.8
7.7
10.1
1207.4
1250.8
Abbreviation: eCHIRPP, electronic Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program. Per 100 000 eCHIRPP cases of all injury types among the same sex. a
b
Includes explosions and contact with hot coals.
Author references: 1. Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Correspondence: Jennifer Crain, Surveillance and Epidemiology Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, 7th floor, AL 6807B, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9; Tel: 613-799-4096; Fax: 613-941-2057; Email: [email protected] Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada Research, Policy and Practice
30
Vol 37, No 1, January 2017
Cases per 100 000 eCHIRPP records
FIGURE 2 Distribution of scaldsa by age group and sex, frequency and proportion per 100 000b records, eCHIRPP 2013 3000 2500
M=147 F=107
N = 879
M=60 F=60
2000 1500 M=75 F=76
1000
M=47 F=75
0
1
